Progressivism is the reform movement that prevailed in American political life in the early 20th century. Progressivist reforms have been about government regulation of monopolies, support for trade unions, government health programs, curbing political corruption, and protecting the environment (Shi & Tindall, 2015). During World War I, progressives took steps to Americanize the already arrived immigrants, to reduce their loyalty to their former homeland. An important role in this movement was played by women, who had a chance to gain electoral and property rights and be heard by a wide audience. Even the most ardent opponents of their equality could not but admit that their influence was felt in all areas of society. One of their movements was suffrage: an idea showing the equality and importance of each human being. Because of multiple social processes, these times were named “roaring” twenties. This spirit was perceived by contemporaries as a radical modernization and a break with the traditional values of the Victorian era. In particular, it led to the creation of the Harlem Renaissance – a cultural movement led by leading African American writers and artists. Its development led to the recognition of the great influence of African American culture on US culture. Thus, a new image of the African American has emerged: an educated, highly cultured, and equal member of society.
Courtesy of the Marcus Garvey is one of the clearest manifestations of progressivism. This text contains a call for the unification of the Negroes and the prosperity of their nation. The author proclaims their independence and usefulness in the same way as it is characteristic of representatives of other races or cultures. However, at the same time, people must unite and work within their communities. When united, they will be able to build their cities, develop politics and industry, in other words, prosper and be a worthy nation. Such ideas are indisputably important and necessary for progressivism. Indeed, citizens and government should pay great attention to all the people with whom they interact. Race, nationality, or social status must not adversely affect rights and opportunities. All legitimate citizens have the right to provide for themselves and their families. At the same time, everyone should make their contribution to the common cause, since indifference on the part of citizens in such a situation is unacceptable. In other words, uniting Negroes can be considered as important as creating trade unions or, for example, forming a middle class.
The manifestation of ideas of progressivism can be found in the modern world, which proves their importance for people. For instance, one of the highlights of recent months has been the Black Lives Matter movement, which continues to grow in America and around the world. Through this movement, people try to open the eyes of others to the value of every human life. Negroes rally to prove their worth, which is still not universally accepted for some reason. According to Maqbool (2020), this movement has developed rapidly and gained enormous proportions in just a few weeks. Therefore, this topic is truly critical for modern people since it allows members of a particular race to unite and fight discrimination, defending their rights. This is a big step towards a democratic and tolerant society in which all people are equal and respect each other. Such relationships between people can be considered truly progressive since they allow leaving all outdated stereotypes and foundations in the past. Consequently, some of the ideas of progressivists have found reflection in the modern world and have been implemented.
References
Garvey, M. (n.d.). If you believe the Negro has a soul. History Matters. Web.
Maqbool, A. (2020). Black Lives Matter: From social media post to global movement. BBC News. Web.
Shi, D., & Tindall, G. (2015). America: The essential learning edition. W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.